Different frequency of acupoint thread-embedding for overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To compare the effect of different frequency of acupoint thread-embedding on weight loss in subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention.@*METHODS@#A total of 126 subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention were randomized into a 2-week group(63 cases, 13 cases dropped out)and a 3-week group(63 cases, 11 cases dropped out, 1 case was eliminated). The two groups were treated with acupoint thread-embedding once every 2 weeks and once every 3 weeks respectively, Zhongwan(CV 12), Shuifen(CV 9), Qihai(CV 6), Guanyuan(CV 4) and bilateral Zhangmen(LR 13), Tianshu(ST 25), Liangmen(ST 21), Daheng(SP 15), Fujie(SP 14), Pishu(BL 20), Yinlingquan(SP 9)were selected. Four times were required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, follow-up after 2 months of treatment completion, the body mass index(BMI), body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, obesity degree, fat percentage(F%), skin fold thickness were observed in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, the BMI, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, obesity degree, F%, skin fold thickness in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.001, P<0.01), the changes of BMI, body weight, obesity degree, F%, skin fold thickness in the 2-week group were larger than those in the 3-week group(P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The effect of acupoint thread-embedding once every 2 weeks on weight loss in subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention is superior to that once every 3 weeks.

Clinical observation on different frequency of auricular bloodletting combined with auricular point sticking for acne vulgaris / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of different treatment frequency of auricular bloodletting combined with auricular point sticking for acne vulgaris.@*METHODS@#A total of 90 patients with acne vulgaris were randomized into a treatment group 1 (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a treatment group 2 (30 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a treatment group 3 (30 cases, 5 cases dropped off). Combination therapy of auricular bloodletting and auricular point sticking at Fei (CO14), Shenmen (TF4), Neifenmi (CO18) and Shenshangxian (TG2p) were given once a week, twice a week and 3 times a week in the treatment group 1, the treatment group 2 and the treatment group 3 respectively, 4 weeks were as one course and totally 3 courses were required in the 3 groups. Before treatment and after 1, 2, 3 courses of treatment, the scores of global acne grading system (GAGS), skin lesion and quality of life-acne (QoL-Acne) were observed, the clinical efficacy was evaluated after 3 courses of treatment and the recurrence rate was evaluated in follow-up of 1 month after treatment in the 3 groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the scores of GAGS and skin lesion were decreased at each time point in the 3 groups (P<0.05), the QoL-Acne scores were increased after 1 course of treatment in the treatment group 3 and after 2, 3 courses of treatment in the 3 groups (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in scores of GAGS, skin lesion and QoL-Acne among the 3 groups (P>0.05). There were no statistical differences in effective rate and recurrence rate among the 3 groups (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Different frequency of auricular bloodletting combined with auricular point sticking have similar efficacy in treating acne vulgaris, all can improve the skin lesion and quality of life in patients with acne vulgaris, and have a cumulative effect and good long-term curative effect.

Preliminary Analysis of Common Parameters for Acupuncture Treatment of Cancer Pain / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To explore the characteristics of common parameters for acupuncture treatment of cancer pain by sorting out the domestic and foreign literature.Method This article collected and sorted out literature on acupuncture treatment of cancer pain in Chinese databases: Chongqing VIP, CNKI and Wanfang Data and English database PubMed. Main Chinese search keywords were针刺,电针,耳穴,针灸,癌痛,癌症and疼痛. English search keywords were acupuncture, electroacupuncture, auricular, cancer pain, neoplasms and pain. The search range was limited to literature collected in large databases since2010. The article type was limited to clinical case studies. Result s: Forty-four pieces of literature were retrieved after repeated literature was excluded. Conclusion s: Combined acupuncture and medicine and composite therapy are mainly selected for acupuncture treatment. Regularities in point selection for acupuncture are often acupuncture at pain points and acupoint selection according to primary diseases. Needle retention time is often between 20 and 30 min. Electroacupuncture stimulation waveforms aremainly sparse-dense waves, the stimulation intensity is as high as the patient can adapt and the treatment frequency is often once daily.

Clinical Observations on Acupoint Application in Dog Days and Coldest Days of Winter for the Prevention and Treatment of ;Child Asthma / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacies of different times and frequencies of acupoint application in preventing and treating child asthma of spleen-lung qi deficiency type. Method Sixty children with asthma of spleen-lung qi deficiency type were randomly allocated to dog days, dog days reinforcement, coldest days and coldest days reinforcement groups for treatment by acupoint application. The therapeutic effects were evaluated using the TCM symptom score as the observation indicator in the four groups after three months of treatment. Result The TCM symptom score decreased significantly in the four groups at the follow-up after three months of treatment (P<0.05). The main effect of treatment time was marked (F=17.04, P<0.05). The main effect of treatment frequency was marked (F=8.17, P<0.05). Conclusion Different times and frequencies of acupoint application both decrease the TCM symptom score in children with asthma. The therapeutic effect is better in dog days than in three nine-day period after the winter solstice. An increase in treatment frequency influences the therapeutic effect obviously. The therapeutic effect is best in the dog days reinforcement group.

Targeted ultraviolet B phototherapy in vitiligo: A comparison between once-weekly and twice-weekly treatment regimens.

Background: Targeted ultraviolet B (T-UVB) phototherapy in vitiligo is usually administered twice or thrice a week on non-consecutive days. It is diffi cult for many patients to adhere to this regimen, forcing them to discontinue treatment. Aim: The study aimed to compare the effi cacy of twice-weekly and once-weekly targeted ultraviolet B phototherapy regimens in vitiligo. Methods: Sixty patients with non-segmental vitiligo on the face, neck or trunk were divided into two groups of 30 patients each. The patients in group A received targeted ultraviolet B twice weekly, while those in group B received targeted ultraviolet B once weekly. Repigmentation was monitored and graded as excellent (≥75% repigmentation), good (50−74% repigmentation) and poor (<50% repigmentation). The extent of repigmentation at each body site (primary outcome measure), the number of doses required for initiation of pigmentation, and the cumulative dose of targeted ultraviolet B administered was calculated and compared between both groups. Results: A total of 90 lesions (48 in the twice weeklygroup and 42 in the once weekly group) were treated on the face, neck and trunk. Excellent results were obtained in 62.5% (30/48) of lesions treated twice weekly, and 64.3% (27/42) in lesions treated once weekly. The mean number of doses required for initiation of pigmentation was 4.69 in the twice weekly group, and 4.35 in the once weekly group. The patients in the twice weekly group received a mean cumulative dose of 8.26 J/cm2, while the once weekly group received 7.69 J/cm2. No statistically signifi cant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to the outcome, with respect to the total repigmentation, the number of doses till onset of pigmentation, as well as the cumulative dose of targeted UVB. Conclusion: Once-weekly targeted ultraviolet B phototherapy appears to be as effi cacious as the twice-weekly regimen in vitiligo.